Monday, November 2, 2009

USDA Closes Vermont Processor

USDA closes plant after HSUS undercover investigation By Drovers news source Friday, October 30, 2009The Humane Society of the United States released the results of an undercover investigation documenting animal abuse at a Vermont slaughter plant. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture took decisive action and immediately suspended operations at the plant, pending a continuing investigation. The HSUS is cooperating with agencies, and provided undercover footage and some preliminary findings to them earlier this week.

According to HSUS, videotape from the investigation reveals that veal calves only a few days old—many with their umbilical cords still hanging from their bodies—were unable to stand or walk on their own. The tape shows that the animals were kicked, slapped and repeatedly shocked with electric prods and subjected to other mistreatment. After reviewing the undercover footage obtained by the HSUS investigator in August and September 2009, animal scientists Dr. Temple Grandin and Kurt Vogel pronounced that, “the handling practices and attention to insensibility at this plant are unacceptable and must improve.” Link

There is no excuse for the mishandling of livestock. In our industry, we have spent millions of dollars on educational programming for all different segments of the livestock business so that there are no excuses for mistreatment. I am proud to be in the beef business, but there are members of our team that don’t always do things the right way. Because of that, we will continue to devote as many resources as we can to make sure it doesn’t happen again. The HSUS will use this to claim that we shouldn’t eat meat at all. But, we don’t stop going to the doctor when someone is convicted of malpractice and we don’t stop driving cars because someone used it to commit a crime. If these allegations are true, I am glad that it was brought to the attention of proper authorities and that it will get corrected.

6 comments:

In the words of Michael Jackson (seems timely, doesnt' it...?), One bad apple don't spoil the whole bunch...in this case, we should still be diligent to share our messages of humane treatment of animal agriculture practices to the consumer and let them know that it is also not tolerated in the ag industry.

Thank you! I've just won a $5.00 bet! I made a wager someone in animal ag would say "if" (these allegations are true) as a partial defense.

But on the idea that we don't stop going to the doctor because of malpractice. I certainly would stop going to the one being accused. And besides, if one is ill they "need" a doctor. There is no "need" in animal based foods. In fact, a plant based diet will further your odds against "needing" a doctor at all.

I'm happy for your win Bea. But why would you suggest that saying "if these allegations are true" is some type of partial defense. One of the real conserstones of America, and one that most people in the world don't enjoy, is the fact that you are innocent until proven guilty. For more than two centuries, American soldiers have died to protect a piece of paper with those ideals on it. That same piece of paper is the reason you are also allowed to say whatever you like. So while you can make light of this fact and try to use it against family farmers and ranchers who are growing food for this country, I take it quite seriously. It isn't a partial defense, it's the conerstone of the American justice system. I hope you appreciate it, because my family has sacrificed to keep it that way.

Well, there seems to be a constant effort on the part of animal ag to insinuate that claims are false... I guess in the last few years, there's a couple of hundred assorted investigtigations - Yet, NOT ONCE has any video shown to be doctored or tampered with...

I think it's like male pattern baldness, you don't actually have to see the the hairs on the comb to recognize the reality...

Usually the question of the validity to an act are reserved for things one cannot witness with their own eyes... But if some wish to question what their own eyes witnes... Well, I simply have no advice or remedy of willfull ignorance or dissevering denial.

It's scary to think there people like you Bea that believe (fall) for everything they see or read on the internet. ONe time on the internet I saw the Statue of Liberty disappear too. I suppose you believe that happened.

The fact of the matter is that you don't believe in the legal framework we enjoy in this country. That's the biggest shame in this whole matter. People risk their lives to get into this country to enjoy our rights and privileges and you mock them.

Ummm... I wasn't the one who had enough evidence to shut down this plant... It was the USDA. They and FSIS are the ones representing proper oversight are they not? Is there something I should question about their judgement or the authority they acted upon?

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We are fifth generation United States ranchers from north central South Dakota. Advocates for Agriculture was born from our passion for telling the positive story of agriculture. We travel the country telling our story and teaching producers how to tell their own.
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